HBIM FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BUILT HERITAGE: TOWARDS A LIBRARY OF VAULTS AND WOODEN BEAN FLOORS
D. Oreni
a
, R. Brumana
a
, A. Georgopoulos
b
, B. Cuca
a, c a
Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy - raffaella.brumana, daniela.oreni, branka.cucapolimi.it
b
Laboratory of Photogrammetry, School of Rural Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece dragcentral.ntua.gr
c
Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
KEY WORDS: 3D content model, HBIM, laser scanner, geospatial data, built heritage, geometric analysis, survey interpretation,
conservation, management
ABSTRACT: The paper illustrates the utility to switch from a 3D content model to a Historic Building Information Modelling HBIM in order to
support conservation and management of built heritage. This three dimensional solution is based on simplified parametric models, suitable for industrial elements and modern architecture, that can be usefully applied to heritage documentation and management of
the data on conservation practices. In this sense, the potentials in starting the definition of an HBIM targeted library are investigated, towards the logic of object data definition, beginning from surface surveying and representation. In order to motivate the opportunity
in using this 3D object modelling instruments, some case studies are investigated in the paper. Vault and wooden bean floor analysis show how a HBIM for architectural heritage could be implemented in order to assemble different kind of data on historical
buildings, such as e.g. dimensional, geometrical, thematic, historical and architectural information.
1. INTRODUCTION
Conservation of built heritage is progressively linked to the regular maintenance of buildings, defining the preventing
conservation as a real necessity in everyday practice. In this view, it is necessary to have an instrument that allows to
collect, compare, share and manage all the data available concerning the geometry and state of conservation of buildings.
Such data include, among others, products of surveys, drawings, thematic and historical contents, but the information
about maintenance or restoration activities should also be added. This paper discusses the possibility to advance from 3D
content models to a Historic Building Information Models HBIM in order to support preventive conservation,
information sharing and knowledge dissemination of heritage for professionals, public institutions and experts involved in the
decision making process. Paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 describe in detail three-dimensional content models, while paragraph 2.3
gives a brief overview on the use of HBIM for built heritage, at Italian and European level, analysing the questions of data
sharing, interoperability and standards in using different software. Some case studies, section 3, illustrate the use of BIM
solution for the documentation and management of architectural heritage.
2. FROM 3D CONTENT MODELS TO HBIM FOR
BUILT HERITAGE
Surveying of historical buildings and its elements requires methods of data collection and representation able to describe
buildings in a detailed manner, without arbitrarily selecting information The Getty Conservation Institute, 2007. Survey
products, or better geometric documentations, represent an important instrument of knowledge and support for thematic
analysis and diagnostic investigation, essential for the maintenance program and the project of conservation of the
building Della Torre, 2003. Moreover, assessment and documentation of historic buildings require a constant
integration between geometrical analysis, structural observation, decay investigation, social and economic analysis
Stylianidis et al., 2011
2.1 3D data acquisition
Technological progress in recent years, especially in the fields of computer vision and laser scanning, have made the collection
of three dimensional information about the world and the objects around us a possibility. Geomatic engineers have now
the means to reliably acquire and determine the position of millions of points on the surfaces of interest. This data
acquisition may be accomplished in two main ways: either thorough 1 non image based or 2 image based methods.
Sophisticated laser technology is employed for the wealth of terrestrial laser scanning instrumentation available, such as
time-of-flight or phase shift or triangulation or structured light systems. On the other hand, structure-from-motion SfM
algorithms and powerful computers are combined in order to extract three dimensional information and texture from an
image sequence Vaiopoulos et al., 2012, Nex et al., 2008. In this context the richness of data acquired should be treated
with caution, as reliability and accuracy vary a lot and are affected by the environmental conditions, the instrumentation
used, the object itself and, of course, the experience of the operator. In addition, and in the case of image based methods,
qualitative information is also recorded through the digital images. This is a very important fact for the possible processing
within a HBIM later. Availability of 3D data usually enhances the production of 3D
models. Geometrical representations and 3D models must support systematic readings of all the metrical, structural and
material aspects that characterize the various parts of the building, and must enable the collection and storing of other
useful contributions to completely describe the architecture: Terrestrial Laser Scanner surveys and related modelling
software are progressively improving the possibilities for 3D model generations; high resolution 3D texturing models
This contribution has been peer-reviewed. The double-blind peer-review was conducted on the basis of the full paper. 215
obtained from complex object image block, metric and photographic surveys, are devoted to support co-related
information, such as archival, historical data, stratigraphic data, pathologies of degradation, cracks investigations and the results
of diagnostic and instrumental analysis. On the other hand geometrical models must allow a continuous transition in scale
between the survey of the whole architectural complex and its elements, enabling to cross data at different levels of detail and
to support the next phases of information and reading interpretation.
The contribution of this kind of representation method does not end in a better organization and description of data survey, but
it provides an important support for the planning and implementation of maintenance and conservation projects.
Furthermore, it allows the control of the interactions between the various technology components of the building. In addition,
a useful model could promote an easy, open and integrated circulation and use of data collected, by all those who in
different ways are called to work on the existing building.
2.2 3D content models
